Integrative Medicine for Iron-Deficiency Anemia

INTRODUCTION

Integrative Medicine: Homeopathy, Allopathy, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Dietary Supplements

No Medicine: Naturopathy, Home remedies, Yogasana

People with anemia don’t have enough robust, healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen in their blood throughout your body, which means the heart must work harder to pump enough oxygen to their organs.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ANEMIA

RBC		Anemia Type	Most Common causes	Confirmatory test
Size	Large	Megaloblastic	Vitamin B9 deficiency
		Pernicious	Vitamin B12 deficiency
count	Low	Iron-deficiency Anemia (IDA)	Worms, impaired absorption of iron, nutritional def, chronic disease	Ferritin
		Aplastic	Autoimmune	Bone marrow biopsy
		Sickle cell	Genetic mutation	HbS
		hemolytic	Hereditary	Direct Antiglobulin test
shape	Abnormal	Sickle cell

Fig.1: Different Types of Anemia and their causes

Glossary

Hypochromic: less red colour in RBC

Microcytic: smaller size of RBC

Macrocytic: large size of RBC

Hypoplastic: low production of RBC

Anisocytosis: unequal size RBC

Parameter		Anemia Type
MCV	Low	IDA, sideroblastic anemia, Thalassemia
	high	pernicious anemia
Ferritin	low	IDA
TIBC	high	IDA
Transferrin	high	IDA
MCHC	high	Sickle cell

Fig. 2: CBC differential diagnosis

IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Iron from food is absorbed mostly in the jejunum (part of the small intestine). Iron combines with oxygen in the body and enters the blood where it binds with transferrin to form Hemoglobin (haem 6% + 94% sulphur-containing protein) and is stored as ferritin. [click to tweet]

Symptoms: The deficiency of iron in the body results in fatigue, low energy levels, weakness, pale skin and tongue, shortness of breath especially while climbing stairs, dizziness, change in appetite, restless leg syndrome, inflammation of the tongue, cracks in corner of the mouth, changes in the nail, difficulty in swallowing, gastritis (stomach lining inflammation)

Diagnostic Tests

Blood Test:

Low: Hb, iron, ferritin (protein), % transferrin saturation, MCH, MCHC, Reticulocyte count

High: TIBC, RBC-DW

Urine test: haematuria

Endoscopy: upper or lower GI to find/rule out GI tract bleeding & malignancies

Causes of IDA

1. Worms
2. Impaired absorption of iron due to

a. Problems in small intestine such as Giardiasis (fever due to diarrheal infection), celiac disease (intestine lining damaged due to gluten intolerance), inflammatory bowel disease (inflammation of the small and large intestine) or less secretion of digestive enzymes.

b. Deficiency or overproduction of Hydro Chloric Acid in stomach

c. Pica – craving for ice, etc

d. Hookworm

1. Low production (due to defect in bone marrow, blood loss due to GI tract bleeding, gastritis, hypothyroidism) or excessive destruction of RBC
2. Nutritional deficiency – Inadequate iron, proteins and vitamins
3. Chronic diseases

Cure progresses in the following order

1. Pica removed
2. Desire for cold drinks removed (if any)
3. Tongue getting red
4. Nails getting red

HOMEOPATHY FOR THE TREATMENT OF IDA

Miasm: Sphylitic

Worm Infestation: Embelia ribes, Tinospora cardifolia, Moringa olifera, Termunalia chebula, Sulfur, Bakson Worm C, etc.

Alumina: Desire for Raw Rice

Calcarea Phosphorica: Desire for Lime, Slate, Pencil, earth, chalk, clay. Aplastic anemia. Increases bone-marrow activity to produce more R.B.Cs, W.B.Cs (leukocytes) and platelets

Ferrum Phosphorica: Hemoglobin constituent, oxygen carrier in the body.

Natrum Muraticum: Regulates pack cell volume (PCV) of blood

Cinchona: loss of vital fluids

Calcarea Carbonica: debility

Helonias: haemorrhage

Arsenicum album: Pernicious anemia

ALLOPATHY

Iron deficit can be calculated at http://www.globalrph.com/iron.htm

Worm Infestation: Mebendazole, Albendazole, Mintezol, Tibrax

Elemental Iron upto 6 mg per kilo-gram to be given in 2-3 divided doses. Only ferrous form of iron is absorbed. Ferric gets converted to ferrous in the acidic environment of the stomach.

Ferrous: Fumarate (33% elemental iron, 33% absorption by body), Sulfate (20% elemental iron, 20% absorption), Gluconate (12% absorption), Ascorbate, Fructose (25% elemental iron), Succinate (23% elemental iron), lactate (19% elemental iron), Carbonate (16% elemental iron), Glycine citrate (23% elemental iron), Glycine sulphate,bis-glycinate (20%elemental iron), tris-glycinate, glycinate, oxalate

Ferric: Ammonium Citrate (17-22% elemental iron), Hydroxide, sulphate, colloidal ferric hydroxide, sodium feredetate, polysaccharide iron complex

Colloidal Iron

Carbonyl Iron (small particle preparation of iron)

Iron choline

Iron injections: iron dextran, iron sucrose (preferred over dextran), ferric gluconate

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamins: B9 (folic Acid), B12 (spirulina), C (Limcee)

Minerals: Cobalt, Manganese, Copper

Proteins: Amino-Fit, Proteinex, spirulina

Amino acids which contains a sulphur atom: Cysteine, Methionine

Iron absorption is maximum with citrus fruits because of vitamin C

Absorption of iron from food is reduced by certain substances such as calcium, antacids, alcohol, tea, caffeine, oxalic acid rich foods, etc.

Vitamin B12 should be taken with folic acid.

AYURVEDA

Tablet: Hemtab

Powder: Talisadi, Triphla, Maha-sudharshan

Bhasm: Lauh, Kasis, Swarn Makshik, Mandoor

Syrup: lauha sav, Hempushpa

Worm Infestation: Syrup Kramihar, Vidang Asav, brahmi, chirata

UNANI: Majoon Khabsul Hadeed, Faulad, habb-e-khubsul, Faqruddam

SIDDHA: Annabedhi Chendhuram (Ferrous sulfate)

NATUROPATHY

Fruits: Pomengrate (anaar), Watermelon (Tarbooz)

Juice: Wheatgrass (70% chlorophyll), Chlorophyll

Proteins: Sprouts

HOME REMEDIES

Iron: use iron utensil to cook food

Green leafy vegetables: palak, Bathua, Fenugreek (Methi)

Salaad: Beetroot (chakundar)

Flour (Aata): Millet (Bajra)

Chutney: Coriander (Dhaniya)

Dry Fruit: Dates, Dried black grapes (munakka), Dried apricot (khumani)

Others: jiggery (gur), black til, cardamom (chhoti illachi), long peper, glycerine+lemon juice, curd+turmeric (haldi), chickpea (chana)

Proteins: Carrot, Soyabean, Egg, Sulphur containing protein such as cheese

Vitamins:

Vitamin B9: Spinach (paalak)

Vitamin B12: Egg, Curd, Yeast

Vitamin C: Gooseberry (Amla), green chilly

Minerals:

Copper: Peanuts, Mushroom, turnip (Shalgum)

Manganese: Pineapple

Worm Infestation: Tomato+Rock Salt (sendha)+Black salt (Kala)+ajwain, Peepal, Azadirachta Indica (neem), Mint (pudina), cucumber, radish

YOGASANA: Head (ulta) pose, shirsh, sarvang, paschimottan, sirsasang, ultan

CONCLUSION

You have multiple system of medicines to treat Anemia. Visit Dr Nancy’s Homeopathic Clinic, Gurgaon if your anemia remains unresolved.

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This webpage was last updated on 20 May 2020